In a matter of minutes, five days a week, you can also learn what to do if a gun is held to your head, if someone starts punching you, and strategies to avoid and diffuse potentially dangerous situations.

The owner of Assertive Action, Krav Maga, one of the latest self-defence schools to open in Parramatta, says it is sad that people should need to learn self-defence skills but that conflict was a reality of life.

"I think everyone should be concerned about their safety and self protection," owner Kurt Colpan said. "People pay for life insurance, health insurance and things like that - why not insure your self protection?"

"Self-defence is a thinking system not purely defence against knives and punches. It teaches people to be aware - to prevent situations from occurring. Our goal is to get home safe."

Mr Colpan, who attempts to create realistic scenarios for his students to practise their skills, said stabbings in the area during the past two weeks showed a need for greater awareness about self-defence and how to create the best chance of achieving personal safety.

He pointed to the stabbing of a man, 30, as he returned to his car which had run out of petrol in Hassall Street, Harris Park, earlier this month.

Police, in a separate incident, this week charged a man, 28, with stabbing a man in the stomach outside a house on Merrylands Road in Merrylands on Sunday.

But Holroyd Neighbourhood Watch committee member Kevin Horne said he feared teaching self-defence skills could escalate a confrontation and turn a situation violent.

"I am loathe to talk about self-defence for the community at large," Mr Horne said.

"It might be reasonable for fit, young people, but criminals never usually target people of equal strength to them and it's better to run than try to defend yourself. What good is self-defence if you are dead?

"Crime is a concern but we shouldn't have to live in fear and I think it's a much better attitude to take not to be intimidated."

Holroyd mayor Yvette Whitfield said she didn't think there was a need for self-defence classes in the area.

"It's obviously up to each individual but I don't think they are necessary," she said.